Brecknockshire
The Black Mountains occupy the southeast of the area, the Brecon Beacons the central region, Fforest Fawr the southwest and Mynydd Epynt the north.The River Wye traces nearly the whole of the northern boundary, and the Usk flowed in an easterly direction through the central valley.It often acted as a buffer state between England to the east and the powerful south Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth to the west.The exact origins of Brycheiniog are unclear but the name is thought to derive from Brychan mac Anlach, the 5th century ruler of the area.Unlike most cantrefs, it was not part of any of the major Welsh kingdoms for most of its history, but was instead ruled by an autonomous local dynasty.Bernard de Neufmarché was a minor Norman lord who rose to power in the Welsh Marches before successfully undertaking the invasion and conquest of the Kingdom of Brycheiniog between 1088 and 1095.When Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was executed for treason, having been suspected of plotting against King Henry VIII, the Lordship was forfeited to the crown.[3][5] Elected county councils were created in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, taking over administrative functions which had previously been performed by unelected magistrates at the quarter sessions.Along Brecknockshire's southern border with Monmouthshire, there were four such urban sanitary districts which straddled the county boundary: Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale, Rhymney, and Tredegar.Powys County Council established a Brecknockshire "shire committee" consisting of councillors elected for electoral divisions within the former Borough of Brecknock.Brecknock Society and Museum Friends (Welsh: Cymdeithas Brycheiniog a Chyfeillion yr Amgueddfa), found in 1928, is a historical society that promotes "the study and understanding of the Archaeology, History, Geology, Natural History, the Arts and Literature of Wales, especially the historic county of Brecknock."A Brecon Fringe Festival organises alternative free music in pubs, hotels, galleries and cafes in the town.Hay-on-Wye is a destination for bibliophiles in the United Kingdom, with two dozen bookshops, many selling specialist and second-hand books.The present building dates back to 1841 and was re-modelled by Owen Morris Roberts and is considered to be one of the finest chapel interiors in Wales.St Mary's Church, Hay-on-Wye consists of a nave and chancel with a square embattled tower at the west end.Separated by a deep dingle, which probably was formerly a moat, it is situated westward of the town upon an almost precipitous eminence, near to the River Wye.The county has four clubs affiliated to the Welsh Bowling Association: at Brecon, Talgarth, Builth Wells and Hay on-Wye.Brecon Leisure Centre at Penlan has a swimming pool, gymnasium, ten-pin bowling and a climbing wall.The Gwernyfed and Hay Leisure Centre at Three Cocks has a fitness suite, sports hall and multi-purpose floodlit pitch.On establishment in 1889 the Breconshire County Council adopted the attributed arms of Brychan, fifth century founder of Brycheiniog.Gareth Gwenlan OBE (b. Brecon 26 April 1937 - d. Herts 8 May 2016), television producer and director, best known for his work on shows such as The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, To the Manor Born, Only Fools and Horses.Roger Glover (b. Brecon 30 November 1945), musician, best known as the bassist for hard rock bands Deep Purple and Rainbow.Sarah Siddons (née Kemble) (b. Brecon 5 July 1755 – d. London 8 June 1831), actress, was the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century.
Breconshire (disambiguation)BrycheiniogBrecknockChapman codeBreconhistoric counties of WalesLaws in Wales Act 1535administrative countyanglicisedRadnorshireHerefordshireMonmouthshireGlamorganCarmarthenshireCardiganshireBlack MountainsBrecon BeaconsFforest FawrMynydd EpyntPen y FanRiver WyeBeaufortBrynmawrBuilth WellsCrickhowellHay-on-WyeLlanellyLlanwrtyd WellsRassauTalgarthVaynorYstradgynlaismarcher lordshipsLordship of BrecknockcantrefBuelltDeheubarthBrychan mac AnlachEdward IBernard de NeufmarchéMarcher LordshipHenry VIIIBuilthhundredsboroughmember of parliamentShire Hall, BreconLocal Government Act 1888magistratesquarter sessionsurban sanitary districtsEbbw ValeRhymneyTredegarBrecon Shire HallPowys County CouncilBrecon Beacons National Park AuthorityLocal Government Act 1858local boardssanitary districtsLocal Government Act 1894rural districtscivil parishesmunicipal boroughBrecknock RDLlanwrtydCrickhowell RDNeath RDRhayader RDLocal Government Act 1972Brecknock DistrictdistrictsPenderynCynon ValleyMid GlamorganMerthyr TydfilBlaenau Gwentreorganisation of local government took place in Walesunitary authority"shire committee"Brecknockshire Agricultural SocietyNational Federation of Young Farmers ClubsBrecknock Society and Museum FriendsY GaerBrecon Jazz FestivalRichard BoothHay Festival of Literature and the ArtsTrecastleHeart of Wales lineSugar LoafLlangammarch WellsCilmeriBuilth Road StationBrecon Mountain RailwayPontsticillWelsh WaterTorpantauNational Cycle Route 8Taff TrailSt Mary's Church, BreconCathedral Church of St John the EvangelistDiocese of Swansea and BreconSt David's Church, LlanfaesPlough Lane Chapel, BreconChurch of St Elli, LlanellySt Mary's Church, Hay-on-WyeSt Edmund's Church, CrickhowellChurch of St Issui, PartrishowSt David's Church, LlanddewAlltmawrLlanafan FawrLlanafan FechanLlanfair-ym-muallt/Builth WellsLlanfihangel AbergwesynLlangamarch/LlangammarchLlanddewi AbergwesynLlangantenLlanwrthwlCrucywel/CrickhowellLlanbedr Ystrad YwLlanelli/LlanellyLlanfihangel CwmduTretwr/TretowerLlangatwg/LlangattockLlangenau/LlangennyLlangynidr